M&S gives sneak peek of expanded Harrogate Oatlands store

Marks & Spencer has given a sneak peek of how its Oatlands Foodhall on Leeds Road in Harrogate will look if plans to extend it are approved,

The company wants to increase the size of the food hall by more than 70% and extend into the Sofa.com retail unit next to the existing store.

The plans would also see the closure of the cafe, which prompted some disappointed regulars to consider setting up a petition to retain it. 

M&S said the expansion was designed to deliver a “bigger, better and fresher experience” for shoppers and would involve a significant investment in the town.

Harrogate stores’ transformation one of the first in the country

The Leeds Road store will be one of the first in the country to be refreshed with this new-look M&S design. The features would include new fresh product displays and an in-store bakery.

The bakery would be open all day.

Work would take place in stages to allow customers to continue shopping at the store throughout redevelopment.

There would also be an expanded frozen food section, a wine shop and new decoration throughout the store.

A wine shop would be included in the store.

M&S has committed to cutting 1,000 tones of plastic from its business by March next year and halving food waste by 2030. With this in mind, the store would have a ‘fill your own’ section to reduce packaging.

Shoppers would bring their own reusable containers to fill with dried items, such as pasta, rice, cereals, nuts and other snacks.

The fill your own section would reduce plastic packaging and food waste.

There will be more checkouts, a mobile scan and shop option and new digital screens in store to make it quicker to process click and collect online orders.

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The Harrogate history of M&S

M&S first opened in Harrogate in December 1906 in the old Market Hall under its earlier name of Penny Bazaar.

The original Harrogate Penny Bazaar was replaced in May 1934 by a new Marks & Spencer store at 36 Cambridge Street.

It moved again in 1999 to its current location on Cambridge Street.

M&S regional manager Rona Hulbert said:

“We’re delighted to be celebrating our 115th anniversary in Harrogate this month. M&S has a long and proud history of serving local customers, dating all the way back to the days of the Penny Bazaars. I’m really excited that we’re looking forward to the future and continuing to invest in Harrogate.”

Knaresborough’s Dower House sold for undisclosed fee

The Dower House and Spa in Knaresborough has been acquired by The Inn Collection Group for an undisclosed figure.

The 15th century, Grade II listed building on Bond End has 38 bedrooms, a spa and swimming pool along with several bars, lounges and function areas.

It becomes the seventh site in Yorkshire owned by the expanding pubco, whose portfolio also includes Ripon Spa Hotel, Dean Court Hotel in York and the Black Swan in Helmsley.

The group owns 26 estates in total across the north of England and plans to begin refurbishing Dower House next year.

It said this would include a sympathetic restoration and remodelling in order to “enhance its environment, improve accessibility and align the site with The Inn Collection Group’s quality, food-driven pubs with rooms offer”.

The Inn Collection Group’s managing director Sean Donkin said:

“We are excited to be growing our foothold in Yorkshire with the addition of The Dower House and Spa. It is a tremendous site, steeped in character and history in a stunning destination location.

“We’re looking forward to investing in the team and site and realising Dower House’s full potential while preserving the heritage and charm it holds.”

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